Page 122 of What We Bury
“And?” Micah doesn’t say her name. He doesn’t have to. I can see the questions in his face.Is she okay, did she say anything, did she ask about me.
“She’s fine. Milo’s with her. I left him cooking dinner and making a show of it.”
His lips twist, like he’s trying to smile and can’t quite remember how. “Bet he’s already breaking out the board games.”
“He mentioned a threesome, then pivoted straight to garlic knots.”
He huffs a laugh. “Classic Milo. How’d Sage react?”
“Amused. Worried when I had to leave, but I told her he was safe and she trusted that.”
He studies me for a beat. Whatever he sees, he keeps to himself. “Good.”
“You’re on watch in the a.m.”
“I am.” He nods. “I’ll head to Sage’s when I’m finished here.”
“I’ll need a ride. My truck’s still there.”
“Okay.”
That’s all he says. Then he’s gone, back behind the bar, back to the drinks and the music and the endless parade of people chasing what they need.
The shift rolls on. I patrol. I watch. I do my job. The woman in the corset finds what she’s looking for. A new scene starts in one of the open alcoves—a blindfold, a whispered instruction, the sharp sound of skin on skin followed by a moan that carries across the floor and mixes with the music. In the private rooms a green light flicks to red. The night breathes in, breathes out.
And I stand against the wall with my arms folded and my eyes moving, and the memory of a girl who tastes like heaven and tempts me like the devil.
Leave the feelings in the car.
Too late for that.
THIRTY-FOUR
SAGE
Milo washes the dishes, humming something that sounds like a horrible rendition of “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga, while I’m on the couch with the Netflix menu open and I’ve finally found what I’m looking for.
I press play and tuck my feet under me and try not to grin.
TheBridgertontitle card swells.
Milo’s humming stops.
There’s a beat of perfect silence from the kitchen. “Sage?”
I hide a smile. “Yes?”
“Sage Adams?”
“Yes, Milo—I don’t know your surname.”
“It’s Hart.”
I grin. “Seriously?”
“Milo Hart.Yes. I’m adorable. I know. Now, are you putting on softcore Regency porn for us to watch together?”
I hide a giggle. “It’s a critically acclaimed Netflix series and the soundtrack is outstanding.”
